Why We Support Isabel dos Santos?

At Lawfare Watch, our mission is to expose the weaponisation of justice lawfare where legal systems are used not to deliver accountability, but to destroy individuals through politically motivated prosecutions, media trials, and judicial overreach.
After extensive review, we support Isabel dos Santos because her case reflects many of the most troubling patterns of lawfare we document worldwide.

A Case Tried in the Media Before the Courts

Isabel dos Santos has been subjected to a sustained global campaign of accusation, reputational destruction, and asset targeting often before any final judicial determination. Headlines, leaks, and political statements have replaced due process, creating a presumption of guilt that precedes evidence.

At the centre of the allegations are claims of:

• embezzlement and mismanagement at state-linked companies,
• money laundering and fraud,
• illicit enrichment linked to her father’s presidency,
• and a broad catalogue of financial crimes in Angola.

These accusations have been widely circulated as fact. Yet accusation is not conviction, and repetition is not proof.

Disputed Allegations, Not Established Guilt

1. Embezzlement & Mismanagement

Isabel dos Santos has consistently denied allegations that she siphoned public funds from companies such as Sonangol or Unitel. She maintains that:

• her roles were formal appointments made under existing corporate and legal frameworks at the time,
• transactions cited as “embezzlement” were documented corporate operations, loans, or shareholder arrangements,
• and that no court has produced a final ruling establishing criminal intent or personal enrichment through these roles.

Independent reviews show that many claims rely on retrospective political interpretations of past governance decisions, rather than contemporaneous findings of illegality.

2. Money Laundering & Fraud

The narrative of complex offshore schemes has been presented as proof of criminality. However:

• the use of international holding structures is common in global business,
• many transactions cited were audited, taxed, and declared in relevant jurisdictions,
• and several asset freezes and enforcement actions abroad have been challenged or overturned due to procedural flaws, lack of jurisdiction, or insufficient evidentiary standards.

Financial complexity has been repeatedly conflated with criminality a hallmark of lawfare cases worldwide.

3. Illicit Enrichment & “Luanda Leaks”

The Luanda Leaks investigation relied heavily on leaked documents, anonymous sourcing, and selective interpretation of data. Isabel dos Santos has stated that:

• key documents were misrepresented or taken out of context,
• no court has validated the leaks as proof of criminal guilt,
• and the investigation coincided with a major political transition in Angola, during which dismantling the influence of the previous elite became an explicit political objective.

Media investigations, however detailed, do not replace judicial proof.

4. Criminal Charges in Angola

Isabel dos Santos faces multiple charges in Angola, yet:

• proceedings have occurred in a context where judicial independence has been widely questioned,
• assets were frozen before trial, severely impairing her ability to defend herself,
• and public officials repeatedly declared her “guilty” before verdicts, undermining the presumption of innocence.

These conditions mirror patterns seen in other lawfare cases, where courts become instruments of political realignment.

Findings of Lawfare Watch

After conducting an independent review with legal and investigative associates, Lawfare Watch concludes that:

• The accusations against Isabel dos Santos show strong indicators of political motivation,
• Legal actions appear coordinated with state narratives and media campaigns,
• Due process safeguards have been repeatedly weakened or bypassed,
• Punitive measures (asset freezes, reputational destruction) have preceded final judgments,
• The cumulative objective appears to be neutralisation and deterrence, not impartial justice.

In our assessment, this constitutes a politically driven judicial campaign rather than a neutral pursuit of accountability.

The Human Cost of Lawfare

Beyond legal arguments lies a human reality.
Years of accusations have resulted in:

• loss of livelihood and assets,
• forced exile,
• isolation,
• reputational erasure,
• and enduring psychological harm.

Lawfare does not only punish its targets it warns others. It signals that political shifts can retroactively criminalise lives, careers, and identities.

Why This Matters Beyond One Person

This case is not only about Isabel dos Santos.
It is about whether:

• justice systems can be used to rewrite history,
• courts can be mobilised as political weapons,
• and public opinion can be engineered to accept punishment without proof.

When lawfare succeeds once, it spreads.

Our Call

Lawfare Watch supports Isabel dos Santos because defending her right to due process is defending the integrity of justice itself.

We call on:

• legal professionals,
• civil society,
• journalists,
• academics,
• and citizens of conscience

to look beyond headlines, question narratives, and demand evidence, fairness, and judicial independence.